ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to compare the artistic perspectives of J. Dewey and S. K. Langer. Both of these two American thinkers developed their thoughts based on the concepts of change and process during the first half of the twentieth century. Contrary to the traditional idealism and realism, they assumed that the movement and the changing process is the true reality of our world. They tried to understand the essence of esthetic experience and the significance of art in our lives. There are, however, not only similarities but also differences between their respective art philosophies. Dewey thought that the primary task of art is to restore continuity between art and ordinary experience, whereas Langer insisted that art is a symbol irreducible to ordinary experience. Dewey emphasized the continuity of artistic experience with the ordinary one, in order to criticize the vacuity of contemporary view of art as an amusing product that only serve the capitalist establishment. Langer`s purpose, on the contrary, was to establish a proper status, not utilitarian value, of art by underlining essential value and true significance of art.

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